[editor's note, by Skin Patrol] Full credit for calling the (potential) Rocky McIntosh counteroffer should go to
tomas21, who had it last week.
Hat Tip:
Pro Football Talk.
Per Howard Bryant at the Post:
The Washington Redskins' proposed trade for Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs will reach a secondary stage today when the Bears are expected to counter the Redskins' offer of the team's sixth overall pick in next month's draft in return for Chicago's 31st pick and Briggs.
What's to be expected of this counteroffer?
Sources said the Bears will ask the Redskins for a player in addition to the sixth pick, which they likely would trade to stockpile more first-day draft picks. Sources say the Bears could ask for middle linebacker Lemar Marshall, who started the last two seasons but will be a backup with the arrival of London Fletcher. The Bears also might ask the Redskins to part with either linebacker Rocky McIntosh, for whom the Redskins gave up two draft picks to select in the second round of last year's draft, or defensive tackle Kedric Golston, the fifth-round pick who played his way into the starting lineup last year, replacing Joe Salave'a.
I don't like the idea of trading for Lance Briggs
at the current offer of swapping 1st round picks, so adding in some players isn't going to make me come around on this deal.
I don't want to lose Lemar Marshall because he's the jack-of-all-trades in our linebacking unit who can back up London Fletcher (old) at ILB and on the Weak side either behind McIntosh or Briggs.
I don't want to lose Rocky McIntosh because I am ready to see him start and learn whether we were wise to trade 3 draft picks to select him. If the team is willing to part with McIntosh it will be an admission that they screwed the pooch on that trade. It would also suggest that the team doesn't know how to scout linebackers, a troubling fact given how it should inform our opinion of Briggs (since we want him).
I don't want to lose Kedric Golston because he's the only young player on our line who has played beyond his potential. I don't know how upgrading linebackers with Lance Briggs is supposed to help our anemic pass rush. I certainly don't know how upgrading linebackers while downgrading the line works towards that end, either.
If there is any good news from this it is that the Bears might price Briggs out of Washington. I view that as ideal, though it is somewhat frustrating to remain hopeful that another team saves your front office from a blunder. Also there's the scary possibility that the Redskins will relent and throw in some additional personnel to sweeten the deal. If it was a bad idea in the first place (my opinion) than it's a horrible idea per their potential counteroffer.
Here's an interesting theory about what the Bears will do:
Here's what I think will happen: Chicago will explore the market to see if it can get from No. 6 to No. 2 or 3 and into position for Johnson or moving back from No. 6 to Miami's spot at No. 9 (the Dolphins may want Quinn) and picking up extra choices.
Also remember to scope out
Windy City Gridiron for the Bears' fans take on this.
